Button



' (No Model!)- J. MATHISON.

BUTTON.

No. 457,970. Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

W/ TA/E'SEESU' UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MATHISON, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 457,970, dated August18, 1891.

Application filed January 22, 1891. Serial No. 378,666. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MA'rHIsoN, of Somerville, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of lVIassachusetts,have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in. Boot or Shoe Buttons, of which the following isaspecification.

My invention has relation to metallic buttons generally, andparticularly to buttons adapted for application to the flies of boots orshoes; and it has for its object the provision of such improvements aswill render the button durable, efficient for service, and cheap ofconstruction.

The invention consists in a metallic button composed of a single pieceof sheet metal comprising the enlarged central portion 1), constitutingthe head of the button, the shank sides or extensions 6 e, formed onopposite edges of said head, but narrower than the latter and having aconcavo-convex form in cross-section, said shank sides being bentinwardly from the margin of the head under the latter, with their convexsides outward to form a rounded two-part shank, and bent outwardly attheir outer or lower portions to form feet to rest on the material andgive the shank an elongated bearing thereon, and the prongs g g, formedon the outwardly-bent ends of the shank sides and adapted to passthrough the material, the concavo-convex form of the shank sides givingthem smooth bearing-surfaces devoid of cutting or wearing angles andstrengthening the shank made of said sides by giving the same asubstantially tubular form in cross-section.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawingshereto annexed and forming a part of this specification, and then bepointed out in the claim.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the blank from which myimproved metallic button may be formed. Fig. 2 is a side viewofmyimproved button formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aView taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is abottom plan view of the button shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a Viewshowing the improved button attached to a piece of material, the latterbeing represented in section.

Similar letters of reference designate similar parts or features, as thecase may be, wherever they occur.

In carrying out my invention I may takea blank a, of sheet metal, oftheform shown in Fig. 1 and composed of the circular central partb, theextensions or shank sides 6 e extending in opposite directions from saidcentral part, and the prongs g 9 extending from the shank sides and madenarrower than the latter. In making a button from said blank I strike orstamp up the central part 6 into a head 0, which is preferablydome-shaped or of concavo-convex form, as shown, the outer or convexsurface constituting the exposed side of the button-head. In stamping upthe head 0, or subsequent thereto, I form a rounded shank e from thematerial extending beyond the head, and by the term rounded shank Idesire to be understood as explaining a part or feature which shall bedevoid of angles or corners, so that the shank in coming into contactwith the edges of a button-hole may not unduly abrade 'or Wear the same.To this end I give a concavo-convex form in crosssection to the shanksides 6 e and subsequently bend said sides toward each other from themargin of the head and under the latter, so as to cause them tocollectively form a shank which is circular or approximately circular incross-section, the convex surfaces of said sides constituting theexterior of the shank, which is prevented by its circular form incross-section from wearing or injuring the edges of the button-hole withwhich the button may be engaged. The outer portions of the shank sidesare bent outwardly in opposite directions and constitute feet, as itwere, to bear on the outer surface of the article or piece to which thebutton is attached and give the shank an elongated bearing on saidarticle, so that the button is firmly supported and prevented fromtipping loosely. The prongs g g, which, as already stated, areextensions of the shank sides 2 e,

are bent substantially at right angles withv the outwardly-bent ends ofthe shank sides, are adapted to pass through the piece to which thebutton is to be applied and to be clinched upon the inner side of saidpiece, as

shown in Fig. 5, the ends of said prongs being preferably pointed, sothat they may penetrate the said piece. I prefer in forming the head 0to turn inwardly those portions of the margin of the head that comebetween the shank sides 6 e, thus forming, in connection with the saidshank sides, a continuous inwardly-projecting flange d, which, by reasonof its rounded form in cross-section, prevents the margin of the headfrom cutting or defacing the outer surface of the button-hole piece onwhich it bears when in use.

I am aware that a button or fastening device has been made from a singlepiece of sheet metal by striking up a cup-shaped projection from thecentral portion of said piece and forming said projection by successiveoperations into a flanged head, the body of the piece surrounding saidprojection being bent to form prongs adapted to pass through the pieceto which the fastening device is applied.

The chief advantages attending my improved construction are as follows:First, the enlarged central portion can be formed at one blow oroperation into a dome-shaped or concavo-convex head of substantial sizewithout decreasing its thickness and at much less expense than would beinvolved in converting a cup-shaped projection into a flanged head;secondly, the extensions orshank sides being narrower than thehead-piece can be converted into a shank by the simple operation ofbending said extensions under the headpiece, the shank thus formed beingnarrower than the head and in a great measure concealed thereby and'madeat much less expense and with less labor than would be involved inconverting a portion of the cupshaped projectionabovereferredtointoatubular shank; thirdly, the concavo-convex form ofthe shank sides not only gives the shank a smooth exterior devoid ofwearing angles, but also strengthens and stitfens the shank, so that itwill not be liable to bend or cripple and permit the button-head totopple over; fourthly, the prongs being narrower than the extensions orshank sides can be readily inserted in the button-piece without thenecessity of forming slits or holes of any considerable size therein,the said prongs being adapted by their narrowness and by their pointedends to penetrate the piece, if desired, without the necessity ofpreviously forming holes therein; lastly, the general form of the blank,the same being widest at the center and reduced by successive steps tothe ends, en-

, ables a sheet of metal to be cut up into blanks without waste, theedges of each blank conforming to the edges of other blanks.

I claim- A metallic button composed of a single piece of sheet metalcomprising the enlarged central portion 1), constituting the head of thebutton, the shank sides or extensions 6 e, formed on opposite edges ofsaid head, but narrower than the latter and having a concavo-convex formin cross-section, said shank sides being bent inwardly from the marginof the head under the latter with their convex sides outward to form arounded two-part shank and bent outwardly at their outer or lowerportions to form feet to rest on the material and give the shank anelongated bearing thereon, and the prongs g g, formed on theoutwardly-bent ends of the shank sides and adapted to pass through thematerial, the concavo-convex form of the shank sides giving them smoothbearing-surfaces devoid of cutting or wearing angles and strengtheningthe shank made of said sides by giving the same a substantially tubularform in cross section, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of January, A. D.1891.

JOSEPH MATHISON.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEY, '1. R. SHEPPARD.

